Automatic traffic signal



Feb. 17, 1953 F. PETERS ETAL 2,628,587

AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed. Sept. 12, 1949 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 w FREDPETERS & K 4 .9 FRANCIS J. h'A/VBAC 5 INVENTORg. .2 2 2 A TTORNEK Feb.17, 1953 F. PETERS ETAL AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC SIGNAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledSept. 12, 1949 FIPED PETERS 8 FRANCIS J. HANBACA,

INVENTORS.

A T TORNEK Feb. 17, 1953 F. PETERS ETAL 2,628,587

AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Sept. 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 W u mum mFRED PETERS 8 FRANCIS J. HANBACK INVENTORS.

A T TORNE).

Feb. 17, 1953 F. PETERS ETAL 2,628,587

AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC SIGNAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 12, 1949 ill!!!11.!

FRED P575148 4: FRANCIS J. HANBACK,

INVENTORS.

ATTORNEK Patented Feb. 17, 1953 AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC SIGNAL Fred Peters,Hawthorne, and Francis J. Hanback, Los Angeles, Calif.; Verna V. Petersexecutrix of said Fred Peters, deceased Application September 12, 1949,Serial No. 115,222

4 Claims.

This invention relates to trafiic signals and more especially to aself-actuating and portable traific signal of the stop and go type.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved traffic signal ofthe stop and go type which is self-contained, self-operating andportable.

Another object of the invention is to provide improvements in anautomatic trafiic signal whereby the signal can be readily moved to anintersection or other location for use during relatively short periodsof time, and removed therefrom during such additional time periods whenit may not be needed and its location in such place would not bedesirable.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a traiiic signal ofthe character described novel roller means to facilitate moving thesignal to and from the desired location.

An additional object of the invention is to provide in a trafiic signalof the character described novel self-actuating motor means capable ofactuating the signal for a time period of the order of thirty-six hours.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trafiic signal of thecharacter described having self-actuated timing mechanism adapted to beadjusted for a variety of signal time periods.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a portableself-actuating traffic signal having stop, caution and go periods, novelmeans for varying the timing of the caution period with respect torelatively fixed stop and go periods.

Other objects and advantages will appear and be brought out more fullyin the following specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation view of a traffic signal embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view as seen from the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial view, partly in section, taken along theline 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rotary signal drum.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line |-'l of Fig. 4and showing the actuating motor.

Fig. 8 is a plan view as seen with the cover removed.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the timing lock mechanism asseen from the line 99 of Fig. 8. v

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the drum release actuator and thetiming oscillator features of the invention.

Fig. 11 is a top view of the same as seen at a point in the timingcycle.

Fig. 12 is another view of the same as seen at another point in thetiming cycle.

Fig. 13 is a top view of an alternate timing cam wheel.

Fig. 14 is a top view of another alternate timing cam wheel.

Fig. 15 is a partial perspective view showing a modified timing wheeland timing oscillator, the cam features being formed as a part of atiming oscillator. I

Referring more particularly to the drawings and especially to Figures 1to 8, we show an automatic and auxiliary traffic signal having a hollowbase 20 on which is secured a pedestal member 2 I a pedestal member '22being telescopically secured thereto, the latter supporting a signalbase casting 23. Four angle plates 24 are secured to and extend upwardlyfrom the corners of base casting 23 and together provide four windows 25at the four sides of the signal. Plates 24 support a top ring 26 havingleg portions secured thereto, and a top plate 21 is suitably secured onring 26. A hollow cover 28 is secured as by hinges 30 to ring 26, and alock 3| of any suitable type is provided for cover 28 on plate 21. Ring26 has a rubber cushion 29.

Base casting 23 is provided with a thrust hearing 32 on which a verticalshaft 33 is rotatably supported, the shaft extending through top plate21 which provides a bearing 34 for the shaft. A hub 35 is suitablysecured to shaft 33 and extends through an opening in shell or casing210. secured to plate 21. A plate 36 is secured to hub 35 and ispositioned in and secured to signal drum 3'! supported by a plate 38which is supported on a collar 39 having a threaded engagement on shaft33. The vertical position of drum 3! with respect to shaft 33 may thusbe readily adjusted. Drum 31 is provided with stop, caution and goinsignia 40, 4| and 42 disposed angularly at 22 degrees of arc. Thus oneach half of the drum there appears the indicia caution-stop-caution-go.

A clock spring motor 43 is suitably supported by and under plate 21, themotor having a driving spring 44 whichactuates a gear 45 which drives apinion 46 secured to a gear 41 which in turn actuates a pinion 48secured to a. gear 49 which meshes with and drives a pinion 50 securedon'shaft 33. Motor 43 has a winding stem which may be wound by windingkey 52 which may be held by a clip 53 on plate 21 when not being used.

An escapement gear 54 is secured on shaft 33 above plate 21 and mesheswith a gear 55 secured on a shaft to which a drum release actuatinglever 56 is also secured. Lever 56 has a pair of arms 51 and 58, theends of which arms are bent, forming flanges 51a and 56a, as shown, arm58 being slightly longer than arm 51. A timing oscillator lever 60 ispivoted at 6| on plate 21, and has a pair of upstanding flange stops 62and 63 which are spaced apart sufficiently to permit drum releaseactuating lever flanges. 51a and 58a to pass therebetween when theoscillator lever is moved by the timing cam. An eccentric stud 64 havinga screw driver slot provides a limiting stop for oscillator lever 60,and may be adjusted to facilitate the actuation of the drum releaseactuator and the timing oscillator. Oscillator lever 60 has a flange 65which provides a threaded mounting for an adiusting screw 66 which has alock nut 61 thereon, and screw 66 has a sharp ened end or point 68. Atiming cam wheel is mounted on a shaft II which extends through plate21, the upper end of the shaft being threaded and having a lock nut 12thereon, and a knurled lock collar 13 secures cam wheel 10 on the shaft,as may be clearly seen in Figure 9. Cam wheel 10 has a diametral groove14 in the lower face thereof, and a pin which extends through shaft IIserves to fix the position of the cam wheel with respect to the shaftII.

A gear 16 is secured to shaft 'II below plate 21 and meshes with and isdriven by a gear 11 of a clock motor 18. Motor I8 has a winding shaft 80and a key 8| therefor is provided and may be suitably held by clip 82 onplate 21 for ready use. A dog 83 is mounted on a shaft 84 which isactuated by lever 85 whereby dog 83 may be engaged between the teeth ofgear 16 to stop the clock motor 18 during periods of non-use. A bracket86 mounts a back-lash stop lever 81, which lever drops behind arms 51and 58 when actuated and prevents back-lash. A spring 88 is secured toand biases timing oscillator lever 60 in a clockwise direction wherebythe pointed end 60 of adjusting screw 66 is held in contact with thefaces of cam wheel teeth 90.

A pair of brackets 9| are secured in base and. pivotally support a pairof c-shaped members 92, between which is mounted a shaft 93 whichcarries a pair of rollers 94. Members 92 have tips 95 which bear againstthe outside of base 20, as shown in Figure 3. A retractable rollerconstruction is thus provided by which the signal may be moved to andfrom a location. Base 20 may, if desired, be provided with a pluralityof feet 96. The rollers 94 may be readily shifted from the positionshown in Figure 1 to that shown in Figure 3 by a slight tipping of thesignal to the left, accompanied by a shaking movement which will causethe rollers to swing outwardly to the position of Figure 3, and if theright side is quickly lowered the roller members 92 will be held in theextended position. An obvious return movement may be readily made.

The operation of the invention as thus far described should be clearfrom the foregoing description. Gears 54 and 55 have a four to one ratioand each time drum release actuating lever 56 is released by movement oftiming oscillator lever 60, gear 55 is permitted to make a one-halfturn, and gear 54 will make one-eighth of a turn, permitting shaft 33and drum 31 to make a one-eighth turn and move the Stop, Caution and Goindicia to move one step. Motor 43 constantly urges the gear train 45-50to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and tend to turn gear 55 in aclockwise direction.

Timing clock motor 18, after being released to running position by themovement of lever to disengage dog 63 from gear 16, will rotate timingcam wheel I0 in clockwise direction at a constant speed of onerevolution in six minutes. Cam wheel I0 has twelve teeth 90, and points66 of adjusting screw 66 on timing oscillator lever 60 will be movedover the point of a cam tooth every thirty seconds. Oscillator lever 60will thus be rocked, permitting flanges 51a and 58a of drum releaseactuating lever 56 to pass through the space between stops 62 and 63.

A timing cycle as referred to herein, may be considered to start witheither a go or stop pe-' riod and extend through the following cautionperiod to the start of the next succeeding stop or go period, the stopand go periods being equal because of the uniform formation of cam wheelteeth I0. An example of such a cycle starts with the parts as shown inFigure 12 with the short arm 51 of lever 56 being held against stopflange 62 of oscillator lever 60. As the timing cam 10 rotates, point 68will move outwardly and at a time period depending upon the adjustmentof screw 68, lever 60 will have been rocked far enough to permit flange51a to escape past stop flange 62 and permit escapement wheel 54 to turndrum 3! from the stop-g0 position (or go-stop position forcross-trafflc). Actuating lever 56 will thus be turned a one-half turn,being stopped by flange 58a engaging stop flange 63. Figure 11 shows theadjusting screw point 68 approaching the tip of the cam tooth during thecaution period. After the point 68 passes the cam wheel tooth tip,spring 88 will rock oscillator 60 to release flange 58a from stop flange63, and lever 56 will make another one-half circle turn, thus completinga cycle.

In Figure 13 we show a modified form of timing cam. In this figure thecam wheel is designated I00 and is adapted to be positioned on shaft 1|and is provided with a groove |0| for engagement with pin I5. Cam wheelI00 has 18 teeth I02, and since shaft II makes one revolution inninety-six minutes, the timing cycle of each tooth I02 will be twentyseconds.

In Figure 14 we show another modified form of timing cam wheel I03. Thiscam wheel is similar to cam wheels 10 and I00, and is interchangeabletherewith on shaft II. Cam wheel I03 has six cam teeth I04 and six teethI05 disposed alternately. The cam surfaces of teeth I04 are timed forthirty seconds, and the cam surfaces of teeth I05 are timed for twentyseconds. This cam wheel would be used for controlling an intersectionwhere it was desired to give trafiic in one direction a two to onepreference over that transverse thereto. It will be clear that other camwheels with differing time periods and cycles may be substituted for thecam wheels shown and described herein.

In Figure 15 we show a modified form of timin mechanism. A shaft I06 ismounted to be driven by timing gear I6 and carries a pair of spaceddisc-s I01 formed with a peripheral row of apertures I08, there beingthirty-six of such apertures, the time period from one aperture to thenext being ten seconds. A plurality of pins 0 are adapted to beselectively positioned in apertures use as shown, and Figure 15 showspins in every third aperture for timing cycles of thirty seconds. Atiming oscillator l H is mounted on plate till and pivoted at H2, andformed with stop flanges 52 and 83, similar to timing oscillator leverso. A dog lever H2 is pivotally mounted on lever Hi and has a cam dog l13 which engaged by pins H as cam discs It? are rotated. Lever Hi has aflange H4 which mounts an adjusting screw H5 secured to dog H3. A springi5 biases lever ill for cam d'Og and timing disc pin engagement, and alocking lever II! is provided for engaging pins 1 I ll for stopping thetiming motor. A bracket H3 secured on plate 2? mounts an adjusting screwH9 providing a stefor oscillator lever I l I The operation of the timingmechanism of Fig me should be clear. As shaft 106 turns, discs 2 ii!rotate causing successive engagement of pins lit with oscillator leverdog H3. During an initial portion of each cam and pin engagement leverill will be rocked to permit flange 57a of drum release actuating lever58 to escape past stop flange 52, thus starting the caution period ofthe signal cycle. After the engaging pin Hi3 moves past the point of dogI I3, lever I l I will be actuated in clock-wise direction to disengageflange 58a from stop flange 63, thus permitting the drum 3'! to turn tothe stop-go position in a manner substantially similar to the drumrelease and timing mechanism of Figures 1 to 14.

Having described our invention what we claim totable signal drum anddrive shaft means constantly urging said drum into rotation and havingan escapement gear, the combination of a control pinion for said gear amid-pivoted gear release lever rotatable with said pinion and havingaxially directed flanges at each end at unequal distances from thepinion axis, a timing lever oscillator having stops for said gearrelease lever flanges, and a timing cam Wheel for actuating saidoscillator to periodically release said gear release lever to permitsaid drum to rotate a first predetermined amount and thereafter a secondpredetermined amount to complete a cycle of operation, said oscillatorhaving means adjustably engageable with said cam wheel whereby the timeperiod of said first rotation may be varied.

2. In an automatic traflic signal having a rotatable signal drum anddrive shaft means constantly urging said drum into rotation and havingan escapement gear, the combination of a control pinion for said gear, amid-pivoted gear release lever rotatable with said pinion and havingaxially directed flanges at each end at un- 1. In an automatic traflicsignal having a roequal distances from the pinion axis, a timing leveroscillator having stops for said gear release lever flanges, and atiming cam wheel for actuating said oscillator to periodically releasesaid gear release lever to permit said drum to rotate a firstpredetermined amount and thereafter a second predetermined amount tocomplete a cycle of operation, said lever being rotated a one-half turnduring each of said drum rotation movements each of said oscillatorstops being engageable with one of said gear release lever flanges.

3. In an automatic traffic signal having a rotatable signal drum anddrive shaft means constantly urging said drum into rotation and havingan escapement gear, the combination of a control pinion for said gear,a, mid-pivoted gear release lever rotatable with said pinion and havingaxially directed flanges at each end at unequal distances from thepinion axis, a timing lever oscillator having stops for said gearrelease lever flanges, and a timing cam wheel for actuating saidoscillator to periodically release said gear release lever to permitsaid drum to rotate a first predetermined amount and thereafter a secondpredetermined amount to complete a cycle of operation, said cam wheelhaving alternately arranged portions for actuating said oscillator tocontrol said drum rotation in a second cycle of time different from saidfirst cycle.

4. In an automatic traffic signal having a rotatable signa'l drum anddrive shaft means constantly urging said drum into rotation and havingan escapem-ent gear, the combination of a control pinion for said gear,a mid-pivoted gear release lever rotatable with said pinion and havingaxially directed flanges at each end at unequaldistances from the pinionaxis, a timing lever oscillator having stops for said gear release leverflanges, and a timing cam wheel for actuat ing said oscillator toperiodically release said gear release lever, to permit said drum torotate a first predetermined amount and thereafter a secondpredetermined amount to complete a cycle of operation, said cam wheelhaving a plurality of cam portions each arranged for actuation of theoscillator through one cycle.

FRED PETERS. FRANCIS J. HANBACK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,588,240 Leach June 8, 19261,691,791 Wayland ct al Nov. 13,1928 1,830,784 Dapron Nov. 10, 1931

